**(Abigail)**
‘You look perfect,’ Jillian swooned, clasping her hands together. ‘I can’t believe how well you pull this old dress off.’
‘Thanks,’ I croaked. This was the same dress my mother was married in. Ever since I’ve known her, she was soft around the edges, and it’s crazy to think that this was hers. ‘I can’t believe it’s my mom’s. It’s so damn tight! Wait, don’t tell her I said that!’ Everything was more emotional today, and I was saying whatever came to mind.
The flap to our tent opened, and Luke walked in, a look of shock and confusion on his face. He was speechless for a second, giving Jillian time to scold. ‘What are you doing here?’ she berated. ‘This is so bad for the joojoo, you need to get out!’
‘I – sorry,’ he stammered, ‘I thought this was –’ He cut himself off, and strode the few feet separating us, launching his mouth onto mine, releasing a moan from my throat. I didn’t care that his hands were pressing even further into my already-crushed waist and I all but forgotten we weren’t alone.
‘Save the babymaking for later,’ Jillian groaned, separating us forcefully. ‘Damn it, now I’ll have to re-touch her lipstick.’
She pushed Luke back a step, who was still gazing hungrily at me, and I swallowed. ‘Out, out!’
‘How’s my girl doing in here?’ my father, Stan’s voice called out. He entered the room, took one look at the scene, and settled his iron stare on Luke. Immediately, Luke stood a few inches straighter.
‘Don’t you know you’re not supposed to see the bride before the processional?’ he growled.
Luke gulped. ‘Yes sir, I uh, I thought this was the bathroom. Made a wrong turn,’ he said, chuckling nervously. I *so* wanted to magically transport him out of this tent.
My father got within a foot away from Luke’s face, which meant that their bodies were even closer considering Luke was four inches taller. ‘You saying my daughter looks like an urinal?’
‘Dad!’ I pitched.
___________________________
**(Lucas)**
‘Yes sir, I uh, I thought this was the bathroom. Made a wrong turn,’ I said, a stupid laugh spewing out of my mouth. I exchanged a look with Abigail, and saw the sympathy in her eyes. Too bad sympathy didn’t fend off former US Air Marshalls.
To my dismay, he stepped forwards, towards me, until I could smell the weak scent of Marijuana on his breath, to my surprise. ‘You saying my daughter looks like an urinal?’
This was more intense than any judge or jury I’ve ever stood in front of, and even though I was looking down at the man, I felt like his presence was twice my size.
‘Dad!’ Abigail pitched.
Stan looked me from one eye to the other, and perhaps I was delirious from the second-hand weed, but I saw the corner of his mouth crack up. Then the other side, and soon he broke into a grin. ‘Only joking, sweet-pea,’ and I could still see the skepticism on Abigail’s face, now into an innocent frown. He turned back to me. ‘5 AM tomorrow morning, on this beach son. We’re going to test the waters and see if the morning surf is as good as the locals say, right Brimstone?’
‘Right,’ and as I left the tent in a real hurry, I didn’t know whether he wanted to get to know me or that he didn’t want me staying up late on my wedding night. Either way, my balls were tucked up into my stomach.
I entered the main hall, surveying the crowd, and saw our row immediately. Aunt Margery was sitting, knitting something. Always knitting something, that woman. Beside her was Steve, who was busy in a heavy debate with Jacob about something, probably basketball. Next to Jacob was a woman I’ve never met before but she looked surprisingly respectable and well put-together, considering Jacob preferred morally loose and emotionally damaged. To their left was Julia and her husband, Mathew with their newborn son strapped to his chest. Abigail and I visited them after Julia gave birth, and she spent the entire time giving me the “I want a baby eyes” while I spent the entire time adjusting my tie nervously. Chris was exchanging a few words with Stacey, and if I wasn’t given the second-hand green by Stan, I thought I saw him smile.
*Weddings*, I thought to myself.
I smiled, taking it all in. The Hawaiian sun was warning to set in the next twenty minutes, and the orange glow was beautiful, perfect. I’ve been to weddings before and I never cared for them much, but this was my first time as the groom.
And I had no doubt it would also be my last.
_______________________________
**One month later**
**(Abigail)**
‘Oh my god,’ I said disapprovingly, shaking my head. ‘That’s not where the star goes.’ I pulled the sparkling star off the side of the tree and placed it on top. ‘Didn’t anyone ever tell you how to decorate a Christmas tree?’
Luke shrugged, eyeing my ass. ‘Not really, we never had one growing up.’ He dragged me into him. ‘And these jeans aren’t helping my creativity either.’
I swatted away his hands. ‘You realize that any minute now, they’ll be here, *and* we still haven’t finished decorating this tree, *and* the presents are still unwrapped, *and* the food isn’t done cooking yet, *and* –’
‘It’s a freaking potluck, and don’t worry so much, messy is what we do best.’ He moved forwards, attaching himself to my lips and I instantly relaxed. He smelled like pinecones and Christmas, and soon, we were tugging off our ugly sweaters and fumbling with belts.
As he slid off my jeans, the doorbell rang.
‘Motherfuck!’ he roared, pulling up his pants. ‘Just five more minutes!’
‘Your shortchanging yourself sailor,’ I smirked, pulling up my jeans.
‘Can you distract them for a minute while this tent in my pants settles?’
I put myself back together, and kissed him on the cheek before striding towards the front door. ‘Are you kidding? Watching you fumble with that situation is comedic gold. Plus,’ I said, glancing over my shoulder. ‘Messy is what we do best, right?’
___________________________________
**THANK YOU** everyone who have followed along with Lucas and Abigail this entire time. This journey was full of firsts for myself, and anyone who has ever read a post made this a special experience for me. I want to let everyone know that the journey does not end here!
While Lucas and Abigail are ending their tale happily married, their loved ones aren’t as lucky yet. My happy-go-lucky duo will be leaving the spotlight, but the Brimstone stories will continue, and posts will still be on Tuesdays and Fridays. Until then!
Source: reddit.com/r/eroticliterature/comments/7pzgoi/brimstone_series_book_1_downing_abbey_epilogue